Jockey jailed for tips-for-bets bribery scam
2007-3-1
A former retained jockey of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, charged by the ICAC, was today (Thursday) sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment at the District Court for his involvement in a tips-for-bets bribery scam.
Christopher James Munce, 37, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Judge Kevin Browne said a custodial sentence was imposed on the defendant, in view of the serious breach of trust.
The judge added that the court had to preserve the integrity of horse racing, which involved great public interest.
The court heard that between December 14, 2005 and July 3, 2006, Munce being an agent, namely a jockey acting for horse trainers, had conspired with Andy Lau Wai-ching, Dinesh Kumar Daswani and Kamal Govindram Daswaney for Munce to accept advantages from Lau.
The advantages, namely free bets and monetary dividends on horse races, were rewards for Munce supplying racing tips to Lau and riding in horse races in a manner consistent with those racing tips.
The court heard that during the above period, Munce had accepted winnings of about $700,000 to $800,000, which were rewards for offering the tips to Lau.
On July 3, 2006, a day after a race meeting, Munce collected from Lau another $250,000 cash, being rewards for the tips he provided, the court heard.
Munce and Lau were arrested in an ambush operation. The $250,000 cash, together with a piece of paper on which betting records were written, was seized from Munce.
The judge today ordered that the $250,000 cash seized from Munce be confiscated.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel John Dunn, assisted by ICAC officer Lawrence Hong.
Christopher James Munce, 37, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Judge Kevin Browne said a custodial sentence was imposed on the defendant, in view of the serious breach of trust.
The judge added that the court had to preserve the integrity of horse racing, which involved great public interest.
The court heard that between December 14, 2005 and July 3, 2006, Munce being an agent, namely a jockey acting for horse trainers, had conspired with Andy Lau Wai-ching, Dinesh Kumar Daswani and Kamal Govindram Daswaney for Munce to accept advantages from Lau.
The advantages, namely free bets and monetary dividends on horse races, were rewards for Munce supplying racing tips to Lau and riding in horse races in a manner consistent with those racing tips.
The court heard that during the above period, Munce had accepted winnings of about $700,000 to $800,000, which were rewards for offering the tips to Lau.
On July 3, 2006, a day after a race meeting, Munce collected from Lau another $250,000 cash, being rewards for the tips he provided, the court heard.
Munce and Lau were arrested in an ambush operation. The $250,000 cash, together with a piece of paper on which betting records were written, was seized from Munce.
The judge today ordered that the $250,000 cash seized from Munce be confiscated.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel John Dunn, assisted by ICAC officer Lawrence Hong.